Jffiagketically-qperated toy



N. 8. PAGE.

MAGNETICALLY OPERATED TOY.

APPLICATION man OCT- 32, m4.

1,323,232. Patented Nov. 25,1919.

l\\\ 1 I I. 3 \x WITNESSES INVENTUR N OBI/IAN S. PAGE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MAGNETICALLY-OPERATED TOY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, ism.

Application filed October 31, 1914. Serial No. 889,669.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, NORMAN S. PAGE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, borough of Brooklyn, Kings county, have invented a new and Improved Magnetically-Operated Toy, of which the following is a description.

Heretofore lifelike figures and other objects have been caused to move over a plane surface by the attractive force of a magnet.

' An iron armature is usually located in the base of the object to be moved, within the field of a concealed magnet, any movement of which results in a like movement of the object, without any apparent means of locomotion. Such movements while somewhat mystifying and amusing are not lifelike as all portions of the object move merely in lines parallel to the supporting surface without any of the usual motions accompanying self-propulsion.

The object of the present invention is to produce motions in a toy indicative of selfpropulsion by means external to the object moved and without visible means of connection. Several methods have been found that give satisfactory results such as compressed air, vacuum, hair-like wires or magnetic attraction. The magnetic method being preferable will be most fully described, it being assumed that the other methods will be understood without detailed explanations or drawings after the magnetic method has been described.

By means of armatures and moving magnetic fields of varying intensities I have produced life-like motions in a skating figure. The lower limbs of the figure constitute the armatures which glide, or if equipped with rollers roll over the surface of glass or other non magnetic material in response to a magnet beneath the surface. The dimen sions and the relative positions of the skates are such as to provide a sufiiciently large base to support the toy normally in an upright position, the relative positions of the two skates forming the longer, and the skates the shorter sides of an imaginary rectangular surface covered by the toy. Additional explanation of this particular form of the invention may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 represents a rear view of the combination, and Fig. 2 an enlarged view of the armatures and magnets.

In Fig. 1 the form of a skater is shown with lower limbs 1 and 2, which compose the pole pieces of the armature, resting on edge upon surface 3, the planes composing the lower surfaces of the limbs converging downwardly. Movable magnets l and 5 control the movements and positions of armatures 1 and 2.

Fig. 2 shows a method of supporting the I toy on one limb while the other is raised from the surface. Assuming magnet 5 to be moved downward from armature 2, thereby removing the attractive force tending to keep the armature 2 in contact with surface 3. The attraction of magnet 4 will then pull armature 1, shown supported on one edge in dotted lines, into a vertical position. Armature 2 being connected to armature 1 through the limbs of the toy, the movement of armature 1 into a vertical po sition will result in raising armature 2 from surface 3. Any forward or backward movement of the figure while in this position would give the effect of skating on one limb.

By returning magnet 5 to its original position and lowering magnet l armature 2 returns to the surface while armature 1 is raised therefrom. These movements of the magnets in addition to alternately raising the limbs will obviously cause the body of "the figure to sway as in real life.

ther methods may be used to change the intensity of the attraction between the magnets and the armatures, such as variations of current flow through electromagnets, shunting the magnetic line of force, etc.

By adding horizontal motions to both magnets or the supporting surface the figure may be given a forward, backward, rolling, or rotating motion as desired.

By properly combining up and down with a forward, backward or swinging movement of the magnets perfect representations of a live skater may be obtained.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a magnetically operated toy in combination, a suitable support and a figure having foot portions adapted normally to support the figure in upright position having a fulcrum point on the inner parts thereof, the outer parts being composed wholly or in part of paramagnetic material normally out of contact with the support.

2. A magnetically operated toy figure having foot portions provided with a fulcrum point on the inner parts and para magnetic material in the outer portions.

3. A magnetically operated figure having a fulcrum point on the inner parts of the foot portions the lower extremities of which are flat surfaces.

4. A magnetically operated figure having a fulcrum point on the inner parts of the foot portions the lower extremities of which are flat surfaces composed wholly or in part of paramagnetic material.

5. In a magnetically operated toy in combination, a suitable support and a figure adapted normally to stand in an upright position having a fulcrum point in contact with the support and paramagnetic material out of contact with the support.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 29th day of October, 19%.

NORMAN S. PAGE.

Witnesses:

C. K. MAGRUM, M. MAGRUM. 

